Blastclaw

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Pirate Blastclaw
ClassM3 Fighter
Speed (Min-Max)52.0 - 145.6 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)12 - 34 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)21.8 - 54.6 RPM
Hull Strength9,000 / 18,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)3 x 25 MJ (75 MJ)
Shield Reactor715 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)120 - 230 @ L
Laser Capacitor6,800 MJ
Laser Recharge136 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 4
                                                                                                         Front x 2
                                                                                                         Rear x 2
Pirate Blastclaw Prototype
ClassM3 Fighter
Speed (Min-Max)57.0 - 159.6 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)13 - 36 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)21.8 - 54.6 RPM
Hull Strength9,000 / 18,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)4 x 25 MJ (100 MJ)
Shield Reactor715 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)250 - 650 @ L
Laser Capacitor6,800 MJ
Laser Recharge136 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 4
                                                                                                         Front x 2
                                                                                                         Rear x 2

Overview[edit]

This ship is ubiquitous escorting Pirate freighters and operating as the core of a hunting pack. They will quite frequently chase down your freighters and sometimes they'll even start picking on stations. Since they usually come bundled with Plasma Burst Generators, this ship usually poses a very dangerous threat even when alone and outclassed, and should be engaged with extreme caution.

The Blastclaw should really be classed as an M3+. Its cost and overall performance put it in this bracket even if it's "officially" designated an M3. The major drawback is that it has less gun mounts on the front compared to other M3s, although it hardly matters since it has compatibility with certain powerful guns such as the aforementioned Plasma Burst Generator and the Mass Driver.

Background[edit]

The product of rare collaboration between two pirate clans, the Blastclaw is a distinctive and destructive ship that should be kept at a safe distance.

One of the new breed of purpose-built pirate vessels aimed at countering the increasing threat from Commonwealth military patrols, the Blastclaw offers pirate crews some much-needed heavy fighter support when engaging enemy forces. Like its big brother the Carrack, the Blastclaw trades forward firepower for improved turret coverage.

Variants[edit]

Blastclaw[edit]

It is unusually powerful for a Pirate craft, actually having balanced overall performance, on par or better than an average M3.

Blastclaw Prototype[edit]

A marked improvement over the original, the main attraction of the Blastclaw Prototype is its 650 unit cargobay, allowing it to be used as a combat-capable tanker for larger craft or as a missile gunship. This makes it the fighter with the second largest cargo bay in the game after the Enhanced version of the Teladi Kea, which beats it only by 100 more bays. It can mount an additional 25MJ shield and can move more quickly. Combining these features with its wide payload options makes it one of the best M3 ships available.

Physical Characteristics[edit]

The Blastclaw, like most Pirate-designed ships, looks like it was put together from spare parts and has the ubiquitous red-and-yellow paint scheme. It is a rather stocky ship, presenting more of a top profile than most fighters but average from other angles. Turret coverage is likewise fairly standard for the M3+ class, with front and rear turrets each covering 180 degrees.

Combat[edit]

When equipped with PBGs, the Blastclaw can wreak extraordinary havoc on any target, including capital ships. With a more standard weapons array, it is still nevertheless a respectable dogfighter. With 2x2 turrets it can even function as a light corvette, circling its target while the turrets throw PRG at it or any enemy fighters that get in the way.

Equipment[edit]

Missiles

Availability[edit]

Available as one of many Ownerless ships

Suggested Roles[edit]

While the Blastclaw is a deadly fighter in any capacity the high cost and relative rarity make it best used as a player ship or personal wingman. The Prototype variant is an excellent mission ship as it has enough firepower to rapidly dispatch anything smaller than an M7 and its cavernous cargo bay allows one to carry copious amounts of energy cells for roaming the galaxy while still having space left over for taxi missions.

See Also[edit]


Ships by Class
Capital  M1M2 / M2+M7 / M7M / M7C
Escort  M6 / M6+M8
Fighter  M3 / M3+M4 / M4+M5
Transport  TLTS / TS+TPTM
M3 Ships
Argon  Nova (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Prototype)
ATF  Thor
Boron  Barracuda (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Advanced) (Prototype)
Goner  none
Kha'ak  Kha'ak Fighter
OTAS  Venti
Paranid  Perseus (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Advanced)
Pirate  Blastclaw (Prototype) • Nova (Raider) • Falcon (Vanguard)
Split  Mamba (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Advanced)
Teladi  Falcon (Hauler) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) (Prototype)
Terran  #deca.cefaScimitarSpitfyreXperimental Shuttle
Xenon  L
Yaki  Susanowa (Hauler) (Raider) (Prototype)
Pirate Navigation
Core Sectors No sector known with Core security
Border Sectors Acquisition Repository | Bala Gi's Joy | Brennan's Triumph | Danna's Chance | Desecrated Skies | Farnham's Legend | Gaian Star | Gunne's Crusade | Hatikvah's Faith | LooManckStrat's Legacy | Maelstrom | Mi Ton's Refuge | Moo-Kye's Revenge | Nopileos' Memorial | Olmancketslat's Treaty | Spaceweed Grove | Split Fire | Unknown Sector (10,16) | Veil of Delusion | Vestibule of Creation | Void of Opportunity
Capital Ships M1: None | M2: Brigantine | M2+: None | M7: Carrack | M7C: None | M7M: None
Fighters M3: Blastclaw | M3+: None | M4: None | M4+: None | M5: Harrier
Escort Ships M6: None | M6+: None | M8: None
Transports TL: None | TM: Caravel | TP: None | TS: None | TS+: None
Racial Wares Slaves